Tanzania

As you know i went to Tanzania last year, this year i intend on doing four weeks.  firstly i will be volunteering in Cradle, this babies home has been operating since 2005 and is intended for short term care, usually 2-3 years, after which a family member who is able to care for the child will collect them.  many of the mothers die during or shortly after childbirth and there are no other family members left behind or are unfit to care for the infants to meet their nutritional needs, but are encouraged to make regular visits to the home and assist in the care for the child. In some cases children have no family members to look after them so the center works with social services and tries to find a suitable family home to adopt the child.  Then i will go back to the government hospital where they are trying to build a walk way for patients to be transferred between wards as every ward is a seperate, small area where patients can be seen and stay over until they are back to normal health.  Staff are overworked and underpaid and there is little time for them to take me under their wing and show me the ropes.  within the hospital is had become clear to me that the term TIA (time in africa) which really means everything will happen in its own good time and there is never a great deal of urgency - yes its true! Lack of resources and equipment here alongside cultural constraints of working and assessing health care in a developing country, such as patients ability to fund their medical expenses and the access they have to receive treatment aswell as unreliable electricty and water at times, all have an impact on what can be done to help.  I would love to go and make at least one persons life better, by just getting to the bottom of their needs and assisting them to become the healthy person before they became ill. Please help me do this. Love to you all xx X